Planet Rugby Forum

eldanielfire wrote:

Jeff the Bear wrote:

sockwithaticket wrote:I don't follow Super Rugby that closely, so I don't see why they seem to want Shields in the side so desperately. Rhodes is good, but he shouldn't be played ahead of someone like Wilson.

The thing with putting Shields at 7 is that he'd be a classic 6.5. The guy is a blindside for all money. It's like England never learn.

The ironic thing is England are actually finally producing an Openside or two and Eddie doesn't really seem to give a f*ck!

Doc Rob wrote:

sockwithaticket wrote:

backrow wrote:

4071 wrote:So what did Gary Graham do wrong?

Or is Jones just going to call up every half decent foreign-but-England-eligible player for a couple of sessions (except, inexplicably, the English-but-foreign-eligible Polledri)?

I wonder if Eddie wants to pinch these people, give them a cap against Italy or Scotland or someone else shite, then bin them forever, safe in the knowledge they can't change country.

As the Welsh lads have pointed out above, Lewis isn't anywhere near the national side. There'd have to be an explosion at a capped Welsh opensides convention for him to get a shot, so it can't be that we're trying to stop them from poaching him. Did Scotland even know about Graham until Jones named him in an England squad (at which he duly got injured)? He'd only played a few Prem games at that point. SA aren't exactly crying out to cap 31 year olds with no international experience like Michael Rhodes, so if we do end up giving him a white shirt it won't be to stop them giving him a green one.

Whatever Eddie's up to the logic seems to reside only with him.

His Dad George is a former Scotland player. And he played for Scotland in the JRWC. But no, I’m sure the SRU had never heard of him.

Jeff the Bear wrote:

Ceejay wrote:

Scrumhead wrote:Unfortunately I think Olly Robinson is damaged by association with his dad. He’s a good player and never really got the credit he was due.

Sam Lewis was great for Worcester last season and has started this season in similar form. Eddie loves a poach, but if that’s what we’re going to do I’d much prefer Lewis to Rhodes.

Olly Rob is a fantastic player, man of the match performances galore. Sadly for him I don't think he fits the mould of a huge muscular seven for international rugby. We'll just keep him at the blues please where he's 100% appreciated

All that being the case, he's still 4th choice, maybe even 5th choice backrow at the Blues.

4071 wrote:

Doc Rob wrote:

sockwithaticket wrote:

backrow wrote:

4071 wrote:So what did Gary Graham do wrong?

Or is Jones just going to call up every half decent foreign-but-England-eligible player for a couple of sessions (except, inexplicably, the English-but-foreign-eligible Polledri)?

I wonder if Eddie wants to pinch these people, give them a cap against Italy or Scotland or someone else shite, then bin them forever, safe in the knowledge they can't change country.

As the Welsh lads have pointed out above, Lewis isn't anywhere near the national side. There'd have to be an explosion at a capped Welsh opensides convention for him to get a shot, so it can't be that we're trying to stop them from poaching him. Did Scotland even know about Graham until Jones named him in an England squad (at which he duly got injured)? He'd only played a few Prem games at that point. SA aren't exactly crying out to cap 31 year olds with no international experience like Michael Rhodes, so if we do end up giving him a white shirt it won't be to stop them giving him a green one.

Whatever Eddie's up to the logic seems to reside only with him.

His Dad George is a former Scotland player. And he played for Scotland in the JRWC. But no, I’m sure the SRU had never heard of him.

Doubt he was on their radar, though. Scotland have a number of good flankers already, and this guy had made maybe a half-dozen starts for Newcastle when he was called up.

4071 wrote:

Doc Rob wrote:

sockwithaticket wrote:

backrow wrote:

4071 wrote:
I wonder if Eddie wants to pinch these people, give them a cap against Italy or Scotland or someone else shite, then bin them forever, safe in the knowledge they can't change country.

As the Welsh lads have pointed out above, Lewis isn't anywhere near the national side. There'd have to be an explosion at a capped Welsh opensides convention for him to get a shot, so it can't be that we're trying to stop them from poaching him. Did Scotland even know about Graham until Jones named him in an England squad (at which he duly got injured)? He'd only played a few Prem games at that point. SA aren't exactly crying out to cap 31 year olds with no international experience like Michael Rhodes, so if we do end up giving him a white shirt it won't be to stop them giving him a green one.

Whatever Eddie's up to the logic seems to reside only with him.

His Dad George is a former Scotland player. And he played for Scotland in the JRWC. But no, I’m sure the SRU had never heard of him.

Doubt he was on their radar, though. Scotland have a number of good flankers already, and this guy had made maybe a half-dozen starts for Newcastle when he was called up.

Jones did seem in an awful rush to cap Graham when he had really only just broken through. Same for Ben Vellacott, who also played U20 for us. Vellacott is at least English born, though. Not sure either of them have actually been capped yet though (or Cam Redpath, for that matter)